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The Bookish Quote That Isn’t Actually Bookish
I am rereading Pride and Prejudice for probably the sixth time for an independent study project. At the risk of sounding like Meg Ryan in You’ve Got Mail, I really don’t think you can read this book too many times. Every time I revisit it, I enjoy it with greater relish: the wit strikes deeper, Continue reading
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This is the Day the Lord has Made I Guess
There is a wind chill of -40. Negative. Forty. While my Arizona-raised mind cannot fathom this stark reality, I was just outside and my chilled hands can confirm: this is my third winter in Iowa and this weekend alone has rendered it the most brutal. I knew this day was going to be nasty when Continue reading
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All My (Author) Friends Are Dead – A Reflection and Update
First of all, if you got the reference from this post’s title, let’s be friends; we clearly went to junior high in the same era. Alright, moving on. Last month, I received some long-awaited and long-prayed-for news. When I opened the fateful email, I ran screaming across the house to tell Billy. “Crsweryawfurrmuncnterct!!!” He thought Continue reading
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Not a Laser, a Light: Reflecting on Encouragement
I live in the neighborhood all Midwestern dads reminisce about. Every morning, kids march past my house and up a hill to the elementary school. In the afternoon, they traipse back, climbing through my yard, which is also uphill. They don’t know it yet, but someday they’ll boast to their kids, “When I was your Continue reading
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Of The Making of Much Content There is No End: Reflecting on Ecclesiastes and Instagram
My Instagram feed is filled with “marketing experts” offering advice on producing endless content to build up a personal brand. But, why? These self-proclaimed “experts” have built massive followings of people who are desperate to gain followings…but for what? We have created a culture of people who are eager to be famous just for the Continue reading
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7 Similarities Between Christian Encouragement and Spirit-filled Singing
As I’ve plunged into the deep end of exegesis and research this week, I’ve found even more similarities between encouragement and singing than I expected. These are not fully developed premises, but I hope these basic points and scripture citations inspire you to dive in for yourself. Encouragement and singing are both:1. Characteristic of God Continue reading
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Singing Our Way to Gospel Culture: Seven Things We Do When We Sing Hymns Together
I spent the last week studying and discussing gospel culture, which is, most simply, the unity between Christians that flows from union with Christ. The majority of my classmates were pastors, so we spent a lot of time talking about how to foster gospel culture through preaching and shepherding. Naturally, I was concerned with how Continue reading
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Publication Update
ClayJar Review, a Christian literary journal, selected my sonnet, “Ash Wednesday 2023,” and my flash fiction story, “Protocol,” for publication. It is rare to find a Christian journal that values both authenticity and hopefulness, so I am honored to be included. My pieces, along with those by other Christian creatives, can be read here: https://clayjar.review/issues/sorrow-and-joy Continue reading
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Stop and Check Yourself. Are You Being Kind to People with Different Worship Tastes? Reestablishing the Terms of the Bethel-Hillsong Debate.
Let me open this sixth article in our Bethel-Hillsong series with a confession: I have not always been kind when it comes to worship music. I have vivid memories of sitting through sets that I didn’t like with clenched jaws and crossed arms. That is not kind. Let me follow that up with another confession. Continue reading
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Sick of Unfruitful Arguing? It’s Time to Reexamine the Bethel-Hillsong Debate According to the Fruit of the Spirit.
I’ve seen countless articles about the Bethel-Hillsong controversy. The debate over whether or not to use music by theologically and/or ethically suspect organizations has become the new “Worship War.” The battle previously waged between staunch traditionalists and contemporary music fans is taking a back seat to this more immediate, heated debate: Can Bible-believing congregations rightly Continue reading
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Reading Roundup: February 2023
I read ten books in February and, as usual, my reading tastes are unpredictable. The genres I enjoyed range from speculative fiction to poetry to journalism and nonfiction to historical biblical fiction. It would be a wild ride if I weren’t, well, sitting comfortably on my couch with a cup of coffee and a blanket. Continue reading
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Make Christian Nonfiction Beautiful Again
Yesterday, several people asked me what I was reading. When I replied, “Abraham Kuyper’s The Work of the Holy Spirit” and showed them this thick treasure-trove of a tome, there were two basic responses: 1) nodding and backing away as though Reformed theology is contagious and 2) an appreciative nod accompanied by some comment that Continue reading
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Ryanne Molinari 